1. Writing Successful Narrative Essays
Three Essentials

2. Three Essentials
Conflict
Change or Resolution
Descriptive Writing

3. Conflict The problem in the story.
Inner conflict: occurs within you Ex: building the nerve to ask someone out.
Outer conflict: occurs outside you. -Ex: sticking up for yourself or someone else.

4. Change or Resolution How your conflict ends.
Resolving a conflict is as important as having one.
Think of your resolution before you begin writing, so you have a goal.

5. What does this story need?
Descriptive Writing
“And that’s the time I won 2 cheesesteaks and found a puppy on the sidewalk. Just a typical Tuesday.”
What does this story need?
Vertical Time: adding details to increase suspense.
Figurative Language: (metaphor, simile, personification) to enhance the writing.

6. In Review Conflict is the skeleton of the story.
Resolution is the heart of the story.
Descriptive writing is the skin and flesh.
Good narratives have all three.

7. Great Things You are Already Doing as Writers…
Using actions: wailed, gazed, yelled, ran
Including setting details: weather, time of year
Beginning your story with dialogue
Similes: “Brian’s face looked like a tomato!”
Using ellipses (…) to create suspense